Title :
A compact, frequency stabilized laser head for optical pumping in space Rb clocks
Author :
Affolderbach, C. ; Mileti, G.
Author_Institution :
Obs. Cantonal de Neuchatel, Switzerland
Abstract :
We present the realization of a compact and frequency stabilized laser head operating on the D2 line of rubidium. This laser head will be used for optical pumping in rubidium atomic frequency standards and has potential for space applications. The design is based on an external cavity diode laser stabilized to a saturated absorption spectroscopy reference line. The volume of the complete laser head physics package including the reference Rb vapor cell totals 200 cm3 only. First performance measurements of a rubidium atomic clock using the laser head are presented.
Keywords :
atomic absorption spectroscopy; atomic clocks; frequency standards; laser frequency stability; optical pumping; rubidium; semiconductor lasers; Rb; Rb vapor cell; atomic absorption spectroscopy; cavity diode laser; frequency stabilized laser head; optical pumping; rubidium atomic clock; rubidium atomic frequency standards; space Rb clocks; space applications; Absorption; Atom lasers; Atomic clocks; Diode lasers; Frequency; Laser stability; Laser theory; Optical design; Optical pumping; Pump lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Frequency Control Symposium and PDA Exhibition Jointly with the 17th European Frequency and Time Forum, 2003. Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE International
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7688-9
DOI :
10.1109/FREQ.2003.1274997
